The search committee seeking UTEP's next head football coach is one man, and that one man, athletic director Bob Stull, isn't saying much.

Neither are the principle names linked to the position, which came open a week ago when Mike Price announced his retirement.

Defensive coordinator Andre Patterson said he has applied and former co-offensive coordinator Bob Connelly, now the offensive line coach at Arizona State, expressed interest.

Other than that, anyone whose name has come up is mum.

"If I told you, I'd have to kill you," Stull said. "I'm not telling."

Online sites have said Sam Houston State coach Willie Fritz was interviewing for the job, but Fritz, who is preparing his Bearkats for a Saturday second-round FCS playoff game with Cal Poly, vehemently denied that to the Huntsville Item newspaper.

"I haven't had a word with anyone from UTEP about the job and I haven't talked with anyone from UTEP," Fritz told the paper. "I've got all sorts of stuff that I'm worried about right now like getting our team ready for Cal Poly on Saturday."

Pittsburgh Steelers assistant Sean Kugler did not return a message left through the organization's media relations department and sources inside the Steelers have indicated he is not interested.

Former Auburn offensive line coach Jeff Grimes, who was fired Sunday, did not return calls or text messages.

Former Philadelphia Eagles defensive coordinator Juan Castillo, who was publically touted for the UTEP job by coach Andy Reid, did not return a message left through his agent.

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"He would do a great job," Reid told phillymag.com. "He would be the mayor of El Paso. He would do a phenomenal job. I was hoping for him because I think he'd be a good head coach. He had a chance at that the last time. He and I actually went down and worked out a couple players there once, so he knows the area. He'd be great."

Reid coached at UTEP under Stull in 1987 and 1988.

Missouri offensive coordinator David Yost did not return a voice mail or an email. Stull is close with Yost's boss, Missouri head coach Gary Pinkel.

Patterson, meanwhile, said he would love to be the next head coach, and he comes with the endorsement of Price and current players.

Stull said Patterson will get an interview.

"For me, the biggest thing is, if I'm fortunate enough to get the job, I've got to be Andre Patterson, I'm my own man," he said. "There's continuity. The players know what they are getting with me and obviously the coaches on this staff I believe in.

"But things would be different. I've got to be Andre Patterson."

One thing in his favor is UTEP can afford him. According to figures compiled by USA Today, of the 116 FBS coaches they had salaries for, Price was 106th at $368,206. The next lowest figure in Conference USA was $550,000 by Garrick McGee at UAB.

"If money was an issue, I wouldn't still be here," Patterson said. "I've been offered the opportunity to go back and coach in the NFL for more money.

"I want to be a UTEP Miner. I love El Paso, my family loves El Paso. I'm not here because I have to be. I'm here because I want to be.

"I came here because of Mike Price, but I fell in love with my players and I've fallen in love with El Paso. This is the best place for me and my family."

In addition to being the defensive coordinator of an improved unit over the last three years, he worked in the NFL 10 years as an assistant and was a head coach at Cal Poly in the mid-1990s.

He said he likely wouldn't stay as defensive coordinator if he didn't get the head coaching job.

Connelly was the other coach to express interest. The Sun Devils just beat archrival Arizona to go to 7-5. Connelly was the co-offensive coordinator in charge of the running game at UTEP, as well as the offensive line coach, from 2008-11.

"I'm very interested" in the head coaching job, he said. "There's no question in my mind there is a gold mine waiting on the next football coach. That's something I'd definitely be interested in."

He said he has not yet spoken with Stull.

Stull, meanwhile, didn't narrow down a time frame other than "before Christmas," and he didn't reveal how many people he has spoken with that he would consider serious candidates.

"I don't count; it's a lot," Stull said. "There is not going to be a shortage of applicants."

There is, though, a shortage of people willing to talk about it.

Bret Bloomquist can be reached at bbloomquist@elpasotimes.com; 546-6359. Follow him on Twitter @bretbloomquist.